Esperanza B. Papadopoulos, MD

Clinical Director, Adult Bone Marrow Transplantation Inpatient Unit

I am a board-certified hematologist and oncologist and work as a bone marrow and stem cell transplant physician on the Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Service. I am part of a multidisciplinary team that treats patients using stem cell transplantation to treat a variety of hematologic malignancies. My particular expertise is in the area of allogeneic transplantation — the use of stem cells or bone marrow derived from a donor other than the patient. Stem cells can come from different sources (related or unrelated donors, bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood units) and be modified in different ways before transplantation. My current focus is risk stratification — determining which type of transplant is best for each patient who is able to undergo and benefit from an allogeneic transplant.

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I am involved in a number of studies designed to find ways to lower the risk of graft-versus-host disease, a serious complication that can follow allogeneic transplantation. In one approach we are developing techniques to separate out the specific cells that evoke this response, the T lymphocytes, and deliver a stem cell product that is very low in these T cells. These approaches are more useful for patients whose acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome is in an early stage of their disease. I am also studying the use of allogeneic stem cell transplants for the treatment of patients with more-advanced leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. Along with colleagues here, I am participating in studies of different combination chemotherapy regimens for patients with advanced or refractory acute leukemia. My practice consists of patients with a variety of hematologic malignancies who are in need of an allogeneic transplant, including patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The goal of my practice and clinical research is to be able to offer every patient in need of a transplant the opportunity to undergo this potentially curative therapy.

As Clinical Director of Memorial Sloan Kettering’s adult Bone Marrow Transplantation Inpatient Service, I lead a dedicated team of doctors and nurse specialists who care for patients undergoing transplantation during their stay in the hospital.